Guiding fingerprint sensing via user feedback

Abstract

An example method includes initiating, by a computing device, a fingerprint sensing operation that is associated with a fingerprint sensor, outputting, by the computing device and over a defined period of time, a sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, wherein each haptic signal in the sequence has an intensity that is different than a respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence, obtaining, by the computing device and from the fingerprint sensor, fingerprint data associated with a fingerprint of the finger of the user, and responsive to determining that the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, outputting, by the computing device, a discrete haptic signal indicating a successful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation.

1 . A method comprising:
 responsive to determining that a finger of a user is positioned at a fingerprint sensor, initiating, by a computing device, a fingerprint sensing operation that is associated with the fingerprint sensor;   outputting, by the computing device and over a defined period of time, a sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, wherein each haptic signal in the sequence has an intensity that is different than a respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence;   obtaining, by the computing device and from the fingerprint sensor, fingerprint data that is associated with a fingerprint of the finger of the user;   determining, by the computing device, whether the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation; and   responsive to determining that the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, outputting, by the computing device, a discrete haptic signal to indicate a successful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein outputting the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, the sequence of haptic signals with increasing intensity, the intensity of each haptic signal in the sequence being greater than the respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence, and   wherein the discrete haptic signal has an intensity that is greater than the respective intensity of any haptic signal included in the sequence of haptic signals.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the computing device has a front portion, a back portion opposite from the front portion, and one or more side portions,   wherein the computing device includes a presence-sensitive display device that is provided on the front portion, and   wherein the fingerprint sensor is provided on one of (i) the front portion of the computing device and underneath the presence-sensitive display device, (ii) the one or more side portions of the computing device as part of a solid-state button, or (iii) the back portion of the computing device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the defined period of time comprises a first defined period of time, and the method further comprising:
 after outputting the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, refraining, by the computing device and for a second defined period of time, from outputting any haptic signals prior to outputting the discrete haptic signal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the computing device, a fingerprint sensing time period for completion of the fingerprint sensing operation; and   determining, by the computing device based on the fingerprint sensing time period, the defined period of time over which to output the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 while outputting the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, and for display at a presence-sensitive display device, a visual sequence of images.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the images in the visual sequence are output with varying intensity, each image in the visual sequence having an intensity that is different than a respective intensity of any image that was previously output in the visual sequence.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 ,
 wherein outputting the sequence of haptic signals comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, the sequence of haptic signals with increasing intensity, the intensity of each haptic signal in the sequence being greater than the respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence, and   wherein outputting the visual sequence of images comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, for display at the presence-sensitive display device, the visual sequence of images with increasing intensity, the intensity of each image in the visual sequence being greater than the respective intensity of any image that was previously output in the visual sequence.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 ,
 wherein outputting the visual sequence of images with increasing intensity comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, for display at the presence-sensitive display device, a visual animation that speeds up as the visual animation nears completion in order to create a visual effect to indicate the successful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, and   wherein the method further comprises:   after outputting the visual animation, performing, by the computing device, an unlock operation associated with unlocking the computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein outputting the visual sequence of images comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, for display at the presence-sensitive display device, the visual sequence of images to form incomplete image portions of a visual ring displayed around a region of the presence-sensitive display device that is associated with the fingerprint sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 while outputting the discrete haptic signal, outputting, by the computing device and for display at the presence-sensitive display device, a discrete image comprising an entirety of the visual ring.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein outputting the visual sequence of images comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, for display at the presence-sensitive display device, the visual sequence of images to form concentric rings that are displayed around a region of the presence-sensitive display device that is associated with the fingerprint sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 while outputting the discrete haptic signal, refraining, by the computing device, from outputting any images around the region of the presence-sensitive display device that is associated with the fingerprint sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein obtaining the fingerprint data comprises obtaining, by the computing device and from the fingerprint sensor, at least a portion of the fingerprint data during the defined period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises one of an optical scanner, a capacitive scanner, or an ultrasonic scanner, and   wherein the fingerprint data comprises data representing the fingerprint of the finger of the user, the fingerprint data being provided by the one of the optical scanner, the capacitive scanner, or the ultrasonic scanner.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein outputting the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, each haptic signal in the sequence followed by a respective pause period during which no haptic signal is output. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the pause periods that occur between respective haptic signals in the sequence decrease in duration over the defined period of time, and   wherein outputting the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity comprises outputting, by the computing device and over the defined period of time, the sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity and increasing speed.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device determines that the finger of the user is positioned at the fingerprint sensor based on input received from one or more of the fingerprint sensor or a presence-sensitive display device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining, by the computing device, reference fingerprint data associated with a fingerprint of a finger of an enrolled user; and   responsive to determining a match between the reference fingerprint data and the fingerprint data associated with the fingerprint of the finger of the user, authenticating, by the computing device, the user.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 responsive to authenticating the user, performing, by the computing device, one or more operations, wherein the one or more operations comprise one or more of (i) an unlock operation associated with unlocking the computing device, or (ii) an access operation associated with accessing one or more applications executed by the computing device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the finger of the user is no longer positioned at the fingerprint sensor prior to or upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, outputting, by the computing device, multiple discrete haptic signals of varying intensity to indicate an unsuccessful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation.   
     
     
         22 . A computing device, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a computer-readable storage device configured to store instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to:
 responsive to determining that a finger of a user is positioned at a fingerprint sensor, initiate a fingerprint sensing operation that is associated with the fingerprint sensor: 
 output, over a defined period of time, a sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, wherein each haptic signal in the sequence has an intensity that is different than a respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence; 
 obtain, from the fingerprint sensor, fingerprint data that is associated with a fingerprint of the finger of the user; 
 determine whether the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation; and 
 responsive to determining that the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, output a discrete haptic signal to indicate a successful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation. 
   
     
     
         23 . A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:
 responsive to determining that a finger of a user is positioned at a fingerprint sensor, initiate a fingerprint sensing operation that is associated with the fingerprint sensor;   output, over a defined period of time, a sequence of haptic signals with varying intensity, wherein each haptic signal in the sequence has an intensity that is different than a respective intensity of any haptic signal that was previously output in the sequence;   obtain, from the fingerprint sensor, fingerprint data that is associated with a fingerprint of the finger of the user;   determine whether the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation; and   responsive to determining that the finger of the user is still positioned at the fingerprint sensor upon completion of the fingerprint sensing operation, output a discrete haptic signal to indicate a successful completion of the fingerprint sensing operation.